Sabres top Rangers for 12th win in past 13 games

NEW YORK -- Mattias Samuelsson scored a short-handed goal and had an assist, and the Buffalo Sabres won for the 12th time in 13 games, defeating the New York Rangers 5-2 at Madison Square Garden on Thursday.

"As a group that maybe hasn't done as much as we should have in the past I think we finally kind of turned a corner learning how to close out games," Samuelsson said. "I know the Rangers had a really good push, but (we) found a way to get it done."

Josh Doan extended his goal streak to four games. Jason Zucker and Ryan McLeod each had a goal and an assist, Alex Tuch scored, and Colten Ellis made 30 saves in his first appearance since Dec. 9, including 13 in the third period to protect a lead.

It's the first time in more than 20 years that the Sabres (23-15-4) have 12 wins in a 13-game stretch. They last did it in 2005, from Nov. 23 to Dec. 19. Chris Drury, the Rangers general manager, led Buffalo with 12 points in that 13-game stretch.

"Confidence is obviously a thing with us," Doan said. "Learning that we can be a team that can win and push back a little against some of these teams with good players -- but trusting each other and having fun on the bench. I think that's been the biggest thing is there's a lot of support on the bench no matter what's going on, and when you have that it's easy to build off of it and lean on each other."

Mika Zibanejad and Vincent Trocheck scored, Artemi Panarin had two assists, and Jonathan Quick made 16 saves.

The Rangers (20-19-6) are 5-11-4 at home.

"I thought we did a lot of good things," Zibanejad said. "It's tough obviously when you don't get anything for it. … Obviously, we need the points, but compared to other games I feel there is more to build on or take away from this game than others."

Doan put Buffalo ahead 1-0 at 4:07 of the first period, stuffing in a one-timer from the slot off a pass from Samuelsson, who was behind the goal line.

"He's a hound around the puck, great at finding that open area around the net," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said of Doan. "He's probably got the best numbers of anybody in that small area around the paint."

Tuch made it 2-0 at 6:58 of the second period, scoring with a shot from above the right hash marks off a drop pass from Bowen Byram.

Zibanejad's goal made it 2-1 at 9:34. Panarin deliberately carried the puck into the zone on the right side and delivered a cross-circle pass to Zibanejad for a one-timer from the left side.

But Buffalo regained the two-goal lead on Zucker's power-play goal at 12:34 that made it 3-1.

Quick made the save on Rasmus Dahlin's one-timer from the point, but the puck popped into the slot, hit off Zucker's back and went into the net before the Rangers goalie could locate it again.

The Sabres were 0-for-15 on the power play in their previous seven games.

"I thought we had some good stuff going in the second," Zibanejad said. "To me they get a lucky bounce on their power play. He makes the save, it hits them and goes into our goal and it's 3-1."

Trocheck scored on the Rangers' first shot of the third period at 51 seconds to cut Buffalo's lead to 3-2.

New York pushed from there, but Ellis made nine saves after Trocheck's goal before Samuelsson gave Buffalo a 4-2 lead with a short-handed goal at 14:38, just 14 seconds after Peyton Krebs was called for a double-minor for high sticking Trocheck.

Alexis Lafreniere's turnover led to Samuelsson's rush, and he scored with a shot past Quick's right ear from the bottom of the left circle.

"Definitely trying to go short side," Samuelsson said. "I think everyone knows Quick's style. You grow up watching him. He's more of a down low goalie for sure. Just glad that one didn't go high and wide and wrap around."

Said Doan, "That's an unbelievable shot and probably the best shot I've seen live. Tip your cap to him on that one."

Lafreniere was on the ice in that situation because Trocheck was cut by Krebs' high stick and had to go to the bench. Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said the plan was for Trocheck to come on the ice as soon as the puck was sent low into the offensive zone, but that never happened.

"The players have a game plan going in so they have an understanding of what they're up against," Sullivan said. "At the end of the day it's a player's game and it boils down to decision making and execution."

McLeod scored into the empty net at 18:30 for the 5-2 final.

NOTES: Rangers forward J.T. Miller had an assist and won 10 of 15 face-offs in 20:24 of ice time in his first game since Dec. 20. He missed seven games with an upper-body injury. ... Panarin extended his multipoint streak to four games (nine points; two goals, seven assists) and reached 600 career assists with his second assist. ... Trocheck extended his point streak to five games (six points; three goals, three assists).